Hoskins Hopeful as Oxford United Welcome Southend

15 January 2015

Hoskins and Hoban stand by for returns

Head Coach Michael Appleton can see the irony should Will Hoskins return to the line-up as his side welcome Southend United to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday. Hoskins was looking sharp until he injured his groin while trying to score the winning goal in the 1-1 draw in the corresponding game at Roots Hall earlier in the season, but after three months on the sidelines he is back and raring to go after a sub appearance at Dagenham last weekend:

“It’s a little bit ironic for him to be coming back against Southend I suppose” Michael told Yellow Player earlier today . “Keeping the likes of Will fit is only going to benefit the football club between now and the end of the season. He can bring a lot of quality without a shadow of a doubt and I’m certainly looking forward to seeing him play when he is 100% fit because I think he will bring a smile to a lot of faces.”

With James Roberts out for a couple of weeks with a hamstring problem Hoskins, John Campbell and fit again Patrick Hoban look to be competing to play alongside Danny Hylton up top. The weather put paid to a friendly at Thame on Tuesday where Hoban was due to play, but the Irish striker has looked very sharp in training and could feature for the first time since signing from Dundalk.

“If we can involve Pat in some way, if we get the green light from the medical staff, then I’ll be delighted” Michael said.

With Joe Riley having signed for Bury this week after his loan at the U’s ended Jon Meades and Sam Long seem to be vying for the right back spot.

“They have been a little bit unlucky but they have been fantastic pros in the way they have approached training every day” Michael said. “They have both done really well when they have come in to the side and they are going to be the future of the football club.”

See the full interview plus Callum O’Dowda and Chey Dunkley in this week’s Preview Show, only in Yellow Player.